John Brown IV, a 6-6 sophomore, scores 18 to beat Lockport and keep Homewood-Flossmoor's unbeaten start alive
John Brown IV is one of the most well-known names in the state’s sophomore class, but that is based on potential more than production. He’s 6-6 and athletic but only started playing basketball in eighth grade and played limited minutes for Homewood-Flossmoor last year.
“John does a great job of playing a role,” Vikings coach Brandin Brown said. “I probably coach him harder than anyone else. He has great upside but doesn’t have any experience. We are throwing him into the fire and he’s learning. John has a really good basketball mind but he’s learning on the fly.”
The potential is starting to turn into production, and possibly a lot earlier than anyone expected. Brown scored a career high of 18 points on Friday to lead the No. 12 Vikings to a 64-57 win against visiting Lockport.
“It feels great,” John Brown said. “We have to keep the winning streak alive and beat Rich [tomorrow at Hillcrest].”
Brown was 6 of 9 shooting and 3-for-6 from three-point range and grabbed seven rebounds.
“This is the first year he’s really had an opportunity to play basketball,” Brandin Brown said. “It’s not going to be pretty all the time. But tonight was big for his confidence.”
Both teams struggled in the first half and headed to the locker room tied at 19. Homewood-Flossmoor (9-0, 5-0 Southwest Suburban) took control with a 12-0 run that spanned the final two minutes of the third quarter and the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. That put the Vikings ahead 48-34.
“When you let a team go on runs with pressure, you have to be up 15 to withstand that,” Lockport coach Dave Wilson said. “So, not beating ourselves is the number one thing we need to do better.”
Senior Ethan Jackson scored 14 for H-F. Senior Marvin Douglas scored 12 and junior Danny Ruffin had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Darrius Hawkins Jr., the Vikings’ only returning starter, had four points, nine rebounds and seven assists. He’s the primary focus of the opposing team’s defense every game but took just four shots against the Porters (8-2, 3-2).
“I can’t say I’ve seen him play this way before, but it shows he is taking to coaching,” Brandin Brown said. “As a young player you don’t know if they are going to force the issue. He didn’t. He impacted the game with only four shots and is celebrating his teammates. That says a ton about his leadership.”
Lockport twins Nojus and Nedas Venckus are two of the best shooters in the area. The juniors combined for 39 points and were 9 of 20 from three-point range. Nedas led with 24 points and Nojus scored 10.
“We just had to stick with our defensive principles against them,” Jackson said. “Play very hard every possession and try to stay disciplined and not pick up early fouls.”
There were no major expectations on the Vikings in the preseason. Brown is a first-year head coach, and his two best players, Hawkins and John Brown (no relation), are sophomores. But Jackson, a transfer from Leo, and several players that have waited for their turn in the program have stepped up to contribute to the undefeated start.
“I’m not surprised we are still undefeated,” Jackson said. “But that’s just my mindset. It is always on winning. I’m going to have confidence in my teammates and coaches.”